Urgent calls to improve road saftey after fatal crash in Gosport

A 25-year-old biker from Gosport died after he was hit by a lorry on the busy A32 Gosport Road, just after 8am.

The death is the latest in a string of severe incidents on the road, which in January saw a 20-year-old cyclist die after he was hit by a car.

The pleas for action come after a police crackdown to try to slash the rate of serious crashes in the area.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage said: ‘I’m extremely saddened by the tragic news of another motorcycle fatality on the A32.

‘We know this road is a hot spot for motorcycle incidents, particularly further north.

‘Clearly, more needs to be done locally by the police and others to raise awareness of the dangers to motorcyclists – and other motorists.’

Yesterday’s crash caused widespread chaos for motorists as police closed the A32 both ways for four hours.

The rider had been travelling north on the A32 on his Suzuki 250, when he hit the central reservation, fell off his bike and was then run-over by a lorry, police said.

Despite receiving treatment at the scene from paramedics, the biker succumbed to his injuries soon after the crash, dying at the scene.

Now Ukip county councillor Chris Wood has called on urgent investment to be made to improve the area’s ‘dangerously congested roads’.

He said: ‘Our roads are dangerously over-congested and need serious investment to improve the safety and reduce congestion. We have the same problems on the M27 and M3 – they’re always over-congested.

‘Hardly a day goes by when there’s not an accident on them.

‘We’re getting let down because there isn’t the political will to invest in our roads.’

Cllr Wood said to improve the safety for road users, additional lanes would be needed for the M27 and M3, as well as improved junctions and a bypass of Stubbington.

His calls come after a drive by police to improve safety awareness among drivers using some of the county’s most notorious roads.

Since the end of last year, officers have been stepping up patrols on the A32 and A3 to try to reduce the number of injuries from crashes.

Meanwhile, a police campaign further north on the A32 has already been working with motorcyclists in a bid to reduce accidents.

At the launch of the crackdown Sgt David Sanderson, of Havant Roads Policing Unit, said: ‘This is not about pursuing people – this is about reducing casualties.’

From August 2014 to July 2015, there were 40 reported injury crashes on the A32, with nine of those classed as killed or seriously injured.

The worst hours are 6am to 8am and 2pm to 6pm. And of 40 accidents, 14 involved cyclists, 10 were motorcyclists and six were pedestrians.

Witnesses to yesterday’s crash should call the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit on 101, quoting Operation Honeydew, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.